Full Text Citations For
Award ofThe Distinguished Service Cross Canadian
Recipients - WWII

To
All Who Shall See These Presents Greeting:

This is
to Certify that
The President of the United States of America
Takes Pride in Presenting

THE
DISTINGUISHED SERVICE CROSS
to

ATTO, FREDERICK BLAKECitation:
The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the
Distinguished Service Cross to Frederick Blake Atto, First Lieutenant,
Canadian Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military
operations against an armed enemy, in action against enemy forces on
Mount La Difensa, Italy, on 6 December 1943. First Lieutenant Atto led a
patrol of three men with a mission of destroying several isolated enemy
machine guns, mortar emplacements, and snipers whose fire was causing
heavy casualties in his unit. The patrol penetrated deep into enemy
territory and neutralized several enemy positions, killing nine of the
enemy and taking two prisoners. On the return trip First Lieutenant Atto
and the two prisoners became separated from the remainder of the patrol.
While proceeding alone with the prisoners, he was fired upon from an
enemy position. Armed only with a pistol, he returned the fire and
caused five more Germans to surrender to him. He be was forced to fire
his remaining bullet to keep the prisoners in line. He brought the seven
prisoners to his own lines although his only weapon was empty pistol.
First Lieutenant Atto's courage and presence of mind in the face of
overwhelming odds reflect highest credit upon himself and the two armies
which he serves.Headquarters: Fifth U.S. Army,
General Orders No. 8 (January 17, 1944)
Home Town: Montreal, Quebec, Canada

BARLOW, JACK T.Citation:
The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the
Distinguished Service Cross to Jack T. Barlow, Sergeant, Canadian Army,
for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against
an armed enemy in action, on 4 June 1944, in Rome, Italy. The assault
section commanded by Sergeant Barlow encountered fierce resistance from
an enemy force in strongly prepared emplacements along a railroad
embankment. The street along which Sergeant Barlow and his men advanced
was swept by close range from enemy machine guns, machine pistols,
rifles and tank guns. Noticing that intense and accurate sniper fire
from Germans behind a stone wall was causing casualties among his men,
Sergeant Barlow ran to the wall, jumped to the top and fired his
submachine gun at the snipers, killing four of them. As he fired from
this exposed position, a bullet struck his weapon, destroying it and
wounding him painfully in the hand. Refusing treatment for his wound, he
secured a rifle and returned to the action. Shouting encouragement to
his men, Sergeant Barlow fired his rifle with deadly effect into the
enemy positions. He was struck in the neck by a bullet, but undaunted,
he continued to fire until his supply of ammunition was exhausted.
Seeing that the ammunition of the entire section was depleted, and not
wishing to sacrifice his men, he directed the withdrawal of his group.
Without ammunition and suffering from his wounds, he remained in a
forward, exposed position until the last of his men had withdrawn to
safety. Still refusing treatment for his wounds, Sergeant Barlow led his
men over another route of approach and remained in front of them through
several more encounters until the objective was taken. Sergeant Barlow's
courageous fighting spirit inspired his entire regiment to aggressive
and determined action in its drive on the city of Rome.Headquarters: Fifth U.S. Army,
General Orders No. 129 (July 30, 1944)
Home Town: Toronto, Ontario, Canada

*FINES, EDGAR S. (KIA)Citation:
The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the
Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Edgar S. Fines, Sergeant,
Canadian Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military
operations against an armed enemy while serving with 6th Battalion, 33d
Field Artillery Regiment, 1st Infantry Division, in action against enemy
forces on 7 and 8 January 1944, near Ceppagna, Italy. Sergeant Fines and
a small group of men were sent forward to augment the defense of a
critical hill crest which had been won from the enemy. Carrying his
machine gun up the hill, Sergeant Fines found the crest defended by one
machine gun and two riflemen. Three enemy machine guns, one on each
flank and one to the front, opposed the defenders; grazing small arms
fire swept over the hill, and intermittent mortar fire crashed along the
crest. Sergeant Fines edged his way to a nearby enemy machine gun pit,
removed the body of the dead gunner, and set up his gun. Ignoring sniper
fire, he quickly silenced the enemy machine gun on his right flank. His
fire, coordinated with that of the other defenders, silenced the enemy
weapon to the front. Confined to a cramped and exposed position, in
sub-freezing temperature, he maintained a vigilant defense of his
position through the succeeding thirty-six hours. When his own
ammunition was exhausted, he emplaced a discarded enemy machine gun and
continued to fire. On one occasion he crawled to a position to his front
and secured more of the enemy's ammunition to use in his weapon. He
repulsed seven counter attacks on his own position and in addition
denied the enemy an important approach to Mount Majo. When he was
finally relieved, the bodies of eleven Germans lay in front of his
position. Sergeant FINES provided the hub of the entire defense of the
sector, and his courageous performance under fire reflects credit upon
himself and the Allied Forces.Headquarters: Fifth U.S. Army,
General Orders No. 94 (June 4, 1944)
Home Town: South Wellington, British Columbia, Canada

GAMACHE, GILLESCitation:
The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the
Distinguished Service Cross to Gilles Gamache, Major, Canadian Army, for
extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an
armed enemy in action against enemy forces on 20 July 1944 near Ifs,
France. During the attack of Les Fusiliers Mont Royal on the strongly
held Beauvoir Farm, the full weight of the enemy defensive artillery and
mortar fire was brought to bear on the troops under Major Gamache.
Refusing to be evacuated although badly wounded, Major Gamache remained
at the head of his troops and with superior leadership and an exemplary
display of courage insured the reduction of the enemy stronghold. His
personal example was reflected in the actions of each member of the
unit, and the inspiration which he lent courageously reflected high
credit upon himself and the armed forces of the Allied armies.Headquarters: European Theater of
Operations, U.S. Army, General Orders No. 271 (September 27, 1945)
Home Town: Canada

*HARVEY, FRANK A. (KIA)Citation:
The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the
Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Frank A. Harvey, Staff
Sergeant, Canadian Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with
military operations against an armed enemy while serving with 1st
Company, 3d Regiment, 1st Special Service Force, in action against enemy
forces on 4 January 1944, near Radicosa, Italy. When his company's
assault against an enemy held mountain crest was pinned down by grazing
fire of the enemy machine guns and rifle fire, Staff Sergeant Harvey,
commanding a leading assault platoon, quickly realized that if the
assaulting elements remained pinned down they would be wiped out.
Unhesitatingly he rose and charged up the open slope through withering
fire toward the nearest enemy machine gun, firing his Thompson
submachine gun into the position as he ran. Approaching to within five
yards of the position, he tossed grenades into the emplacement,
destroying the weapon and killing or wounding all of the crew. Summoning
his men to follow him, he led them toward a second machine gun 100 yards
away. Forty yards from the second enemy gun position, he ordered his men
to cover his advance as he alone rushed the position. Fifteen yards from
his objective he was struck by a burst from a machine pistol and fell
mortally wounded. Inspired by the unselfish determination which cost
their leader his life, Staff Sergeant Harvey's men charged the enemy
machine gun, killing two of the crew while the remainder of the company
quickly overran the entire enemy defensive position. Staff Sergeant
Harvey's intrepidity, leadership, and outstanding courage, exemplify the
highest traditions of the Allied Military Forces.Headquarters: U.S. Army-Mediterranean
Theater of Operations, General Orders No. 144 (December 9, 1944)
Home Town: Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada

*MACKENZIE, DONALD A. (KIA)Citation:
The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the
Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Donald A. MacKenzie,
Lieutenant Colonel, Canadian Army, for extraordinary heroism in
connection with military operations against an armed enemy on 12 April
1945. When the 48th Highlanders of Canada had crossed the Ijssel River
and gained their initial objectives on the Wilp-Deventer Road,
Lieutenant Colonel MacKenzie, realizing that this was the turning point
of the battle, went forward fearlessly in the face of heavy enemy fire
to make a personal reconnaissance in preparation for the second phase of
the attack. His plan of attack, based on the information he gained, was
eminently successful, and his unsurpassed leadership and daring resulted
in the complete rout of the enemy.Headquarters: European Theater of
Operations, U.S. Army, General Orders No. 271 (September 27, 1945)
Home Town: Canada

*MARTIN, IVAN H. (KIA)Citation:
The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the
Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Ivan H. Martin, Major,
Canadian Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military
operations against an armed enemy from 18 to 21 August 1944. In the
course of operations in the fanatically defended town of St. Lambert,
Major Martin displayed the highest degree of personal heroism. Both
during the initial attack on the city and later during defensive
operations when his command was continuously harassed by vicious and
bitter counterattacks by the enemy, he constantly appeared at the scene
of the thickest fighting. He offered his men a magnificent example which
inspired them to hold their positions against the strongest efforts of a
numerically superior enemy, and his conduct was consistent with the
finest military traditions.Headquarters: European Theater of
Operations, U.S. Army, General Orders No. 271 (September 27, 1945)
Home Town: Canada

McINNIS, JOHN H.Citation:
The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the
Distinguished Service Cross to John H. McInnis, Sergeant, Canadian Army,
for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against
an armed enemy, on the night of 9 - 10 February 1944, near Borgo Podgora,
Italy. The advance of Sergeant McInnis' company on a strongly defended
town was held up by a well concealed enemy machine gun. Sergeant McInnis,
a leading scout, rushed back to the leading elements of his company and
secured an automatic rifle. Accompanied by another soldier, he crawled
across flat, open ground to a point within a few yards of the position.
Unable to stop the two soldiers by fire, the enemy gunner threw a hand
grenade, wounding Sergeant McInnis' companion. Sergeant McInnis leaped
to his feet, charged the machine gun nest, firing as he ran, and killed
all three German crew members. During this same action Sergeant McInnis
aided in the evacuation of a wounded officer by litter. The litter party
suddenly was subjected to a heavy enemy artillery barrage. Sergeant
McInnis remained with the wounded officer in an exposed position
throughout the barrage, shielding the officer with his own body. The
intrepidity and unselfish devotion to duty displayed by Sergeant McInnis
reflect highest credit upon himself and the Allied Forces.Headquarters: Fifth U.S. Army,
General Orders No. 114 (July 9, 1944)
Home Town: Toronto, Ontario, Canada

ORR, ROSS W.Citation:
The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the
Distinguished Service Cross to Ross W. Orr, Staff Sergeant, Canadian
Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations
against an armed enemy while serving with Fifth Company, Second
Regiment, Special Service Force, in action against enemy forces near
Villeneuve-Loubet, France on 26 August 1944. When the only route for
urgently needed supplies was cut off by three enemy machine guns
emplaced along the road, Staff Sergeant Orr, without orders, elected to
remove this obstacle. After selecting three men to provide covering
fire, he approached alone to within seventy-five yards of the first gun.
Armed with a submachine gun, he jumped into the middle of the road and
demanded surrender. The enemy gunner immediately opened fire on him, but
Staff Sergeant Orr stood his ground and seriously wounded both of the
crew with effective fire. Under continued assault by this four-man team,
the other two machine gun crews finally surrendered and the road was
opened to desperately needed supplies. Soon afterward the Fifth Company
occupied a castle on a hilltop to protect this supply route and Sergeant
Orr immediately organized the area against counterattack. The enemy, two
hundred strong, strove continuously and fiercely to dislodge his group
from this stronghold. In the face of death-defying circumstances,
Sergeant Orr with his sub-machine gun put an enemy machine gun which was
covering an approaching enemy demolition party out of action. The
demolition party was dispersed with severe losses by rifle fire and hand
grenades effectively used under Sergeant Orr's direction. In another
similar counter-attack, Sergeant Orr fired his sub-machine gun from a
blazing barn into an attacking enemy formation. This attack was broken
up and resulted in heavy losses to the enemy. Approximately one hundred
and fifty enemy losses were sustained during the day. A great many of
these casualties were inflicted by Sergeant Orr and his platoon. His
superb leadership and inspiring personal example throughout the battle
were a major contributory factor in the destruction of an enemy defense
line that seriously threatened to delay the advance of the entire
regiment.Headquarters: Seventh U.S. Army,
General Orders No. 83 (September 27, 1944)
Home Town: Huntington, Quebec, Canada

PETERS, FREDERICK THORNTON (POW)Citation:
The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the
Distinguished Service Cross to Frederick Thornton Peters, Captain, Royal
British Navy, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military
operations against an armed enemy while in command of the ship carrying
Landing Forces of the United States Army into the harbor of Oran,
Morocco, in the early morning of 8 November 1942. Captain Peters
distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism against an armed enemy
during the attack on that post. He remained on the bridge in command of
his ship in spite of the fact that the protective armor thereon had been
blown away by enemy shell fire and was thereby exposed personally to the
withering cross fire from shore defenses. He accomplished the berthing
of his ship, then went to the forward deck and assisted by one officer
secured the forward mooring lines. He then with utter disregard of his
own personal safety went to the quarter-deck and assisted in securing
the aft mooring lines so that the troops on board could disembark. At
that time the engine room was in flames and very shortly thereafter
exploded and the ship turned on its side and sank.Allied Force Headquarters: General
Orders No. 19 (November 23, 1942)
Born: September 17, 1889 at Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada
Home Town: Canada

*SECORD, ROBERT V. (KIA)Citation:
The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the
Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Robert V. Secord, Private,
Canadian Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military
operations against an armed enemy in action against enemy forces on 14
August 1944, near Estreos-la-Champaigne, France. As his platoon of the
1st Battalion, Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa (MG) was advancing under a
heavy and sustained artillery and mortar barrage, Private Secord carried
out his duties as medical orderly coolly and skillfully. Caught in a
shellburst while dressing the wounds of a sergeant, he threw himself
across his body to shield him from further injury, thereby sacrificing
his life.Headquarters: European Theater of
Operations, U.S. Army, General Orders No. 263 (September 25, 1945)
Home Town: Canada

WRIGHT, ALLEN LESLIECitation:
The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the
Distinguished Service Cross to Allen Leslie Wright (M-3328), Lieutenant
[then Staff Sergeant], Canadian Army, for extraordinary heroism in
connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving
with Second Company, First Regiment, Special Service Force, in action
against enemy forces near Radicosa, Italy on 7 January 1944. When a
night attack by his company on an enemy-held mountain crest was halted
by the deadly cross-fire of sixteen machine guns, Lieutenant Wright,
commanding an assault platoon proceeded forward alone to attack the
machine gun position nearest him. After crawling one hundred yards up
the exposed, snow covered slope to within a few yards of the enemy
position, he leaped to his feet and charged the gun emplacement firing
his Thompson submachine gun, destroying one and capturing two of the
enemy crew. After assembling a section of his platoon, he personally led
them in a charge against a second and then a third machine gun, putting
them out of action and destroying three and capturing two more of the
enemy. During an order to withdraw at this point because adjacent units
were unable to press their attack, Lieutenant Wright was informed that
one of his men had been seriously wounded and lay in a position which
could not be reached because of the intense fire of enemy machine guns
and machine pistols. Unmindful of almost certain death, Lieutenant
Wright rushed twenty-five yards up the fire-swept slope, bodily lifted
the man to his shoulders and carried him one hundred and fifty yards to
a litter team. He then directed his platoon in a successful withdrawal
without further casualties. By his single- handed assault, his daring
and courageous leadership toward an ultimate winning objective to save
the life of a soldier at the risk of his own, Lieutenant Wright won the
respect and admiration of his fellow soldiers and superior officers. He
proved himself a real leader in the overcoming of a military obstacle of
no small magnitude.Headquarters: Seventh U.S. Army,
General Orders No. 77 (September 15, 1944)
Home Town: Grand Prairie, Alberta, Canada